Ti Lian Ker said a strong showing for Umno in states such as Johor, Melaka, Perak and Negeri Sembilan would create several narratives, including the view that “Umno is not dead” after its defeat in the 2018 general election.
Ti said strong wins in those four states would also weaken Perikatan Nasional’s claim that Malay voters have abandoned Umno, while boosting confidence among Umno’s leaders, donors, and supporters.
He also said a convincing performance at the state polls would give more weight to the argument that Barisan Nasional should contest the next general election on its own.
“This is where the strategic calculation becomes interesting,” he said in a Facebook post.
“If BN can demonstrate strong Malay voter retention, acceptable non-Malay crossover support, and a functioning state election machinery, then the argument for contesting independently becomes significantly stronger.
“A solo strategy would offer several advantages, including the opportunity to reclaim traditional BN branding, reduce dependence on coalition compromises, consolidate Malay support, and restore party identity after years of ideological uncertainty.
“It would also help counter the perception that Umno’s survival depends primarily on Pakatan Harapan’s urban vote base or federal incumbency advantages.”
Ti was responding to Johor BN’s announcement yesterday that it intends to contest all 56 state seats in the next state election.
Johor BN chief Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who is also the Johor menteri besar, said the decision was made after taking into account the views and aspirations of the people of Johor, as well as feedback from Umno and BN grassroots leaders in the state.
The Melaka and Johor state elections must take place by February and June 2027, respectively, while the state polls in Perak and Negeri Sembilan must be held by February 2028 and November 2028, respectively.
The 16th general election is due by February 2028, but speculation persists that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim could call an early election, possibly in the second half of 2026, potentially aligning it with the Melaka and Johor state polls.